Evaluating the outcomes of development plan with special reference to Moratuwa development plan

Abstract

Plan outcome evaluation (POE) is very significant rather than focusing on planning process, usefulness of plan, content and quality of plan .POE has been ignored in the field of planning due to lack of proper POE method. Therefore planners cannot identify whether or why plans achieve their objectives, or learn from the results of past interventions to improve planning practice. This study focuses on the ex post facto evaluation considering the outcomes of action projects of development plan and aim to develop a POE method to evaluate outcomes of development plan towards the achievement of its objectives quantitatively since no one has made such an attempt. A comprehensive literature survey revealed that adaptation of the components of objective driven, theory-driven and theorybased, utilization-driven and theoretical data-driven evaluation methods will lead to overcome related issues on plan outcome evaluation. Basic four steps suitable to incorporate in any POE method were identified by referring POE methodologies developed by Mayne (2001) and Laurian et al,(2004,2010). This developed POE method includes four steps comprising objective achievement matrix and relevant mathematical models. Field surveys and questionnaire surveys were carried out to identify public perception on achievement of outcomes of action projects. Developed POE method can be used as a progress monitoring tool and also as an outcome evaluation tool since it is sensitive to evaluate the outcomes of ongoing projects as well. Results of the evaluation of outcome of six action projects under Moratuwa development plan indicated that, outcomes of all three implemented action projects have been contributed to achieve relevant criteria of objectives in moderate level by indicating CAVj values between 41% to 65% .Other partly implemented three action projects have been contributed to achieve related criteria of objectives in low level by indicating CAVj values in between 18% to 40%. This POE method will be a useful tool to planners, project managers, and policy makers to improve planning practices and to provide the necessary knowledge to revise plans, improve performance of the projects. This study can be extended to evaluate the outcomes of development plan when objectives are clear and measurable further considering theory, process and objectives driven methods in depth.